INTRODUCTION The dual system of law is provided in Article 121(1A) of the Constitution of Malaysia.

Which article 121 (1A) stated that the court referred to in Clause 1 shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matters within the jurisdiction of Syariah courts. Besides, Article 3 also provides that Islamic law is a state law matter with the exception for the Federal Territories of Malaysia. Islamic law refers to the sharia law, and in Malaysia it is known and spelled as syariah. The court is known as the Syariah Court. Looking at the Malaysian legal system as a whole, sharia law plays a relatively small role in defining the laws on the country. With regards to civil law, the Syariah courts has jurisdiction in personal law matters, and criminal law matters on it.

Personal in thesaurus dictionary it can be define as of or relating to a particular person, or private or it also can be define as a part of law that deals with matters pertaining to a personal his or her family1 . Criminal in the Oxford Student Dictionary can be define as a person who has done something illegal and law can be define as an official rule of a country or a state that say what people may do or may not do. So, personal law in Syariah Court is in respect of Islamic Personal law relating to marriages, divorce, guardianship, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy, family law, gifts or succession, testate and intestate. Criminal law in Syariah Court can be define as a body of rules and statutes2 that defines conduct prohibited by the government because it threatens and harms public safety and welfare and that establishes punishment to be imposed for the commission of such acts.

As can be seen in Ninth Schedule Article 74 and 77 Legislative List, List 2 (1) -State list stated that all the matters that can be carried out the jurisdiction in Syariah Court. 1. Except with respect to the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Islamic law and personal and family law of persons professing the
1 2

Definition from Business dictionary online Formally drafted and written law adopted by both chambers or houses of a legislature. Statutes are enacted usually by voting following an open discussion, and signed thereafter by the head of State and included in the country's statute book. Also called act of parliament, or just act.

religion of Islam, including the Islamic law relating to succession, testate and intestate, betrothal, marriage, divorce, dower, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy, guardianship, gifts, partitions and non-charitable trusts; Wakafs and the definition and regulation of charitable and religious trusts, the appointment of trustees and the incorporation of persons in respect of Islamic religious and charitable endowments, institutions, trusts, charities and charitable institutions operating wholly within the State; Malay customs; Zakat, Fitrah and Baitulmal or similar Islamic religious revenue; mosques or any Islamic public places of worship, creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion, except in regard to matters included in the Federal List; the constitution, organization and procedure of Syariah courts, which shall have jurisdiction only over persons professing the religion of Islam and in respect only of any of the matters included in this paragraph, but shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law; the control of propagating doctrines and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam; the determination of matters of Islamic law and doctrine and Malay custom.

Criminal Law 1.1 Position of Criminal Law in Syariah Court in Malaysia As we know, criminal law in Malaysia is devided into two, which are criminal law in Civil Court and criminal law in Syariah Court. As in Syariah Court, it has only limited cases on its jurisdiction. In general, criminal matters under Syariah Courts is devided in to six parts3, first part cover matters relating to the matrimonial cases such as treats spouse and the wife was not obedient to her husband. For example in case Mohamed Habibullah bin Mahmood vs Faridah binti dato Talib (1992) 2MLJ 793. Parties both Muslims. Wife alleged assault by the husband, and applied for the injunction and was allowed by High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court asserted by the virtue of 121(1A) if matters are within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, the matter could no longer be brought to Civil Courts. Since the matter between parties as husband and wife was purely a matrimonial offence, it was within the ambit of Syariah Law and the Syariah Court.

Second part cover matters relating to sexual harassments such as adultery4, khalwat, sodomy5 (musahaqah) and prostitution6. Example for the sodomy case, Sukma Dermawan Sasmitat Madja v Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penjara Malaysia & Anor (1999) 1 MLJ 266, CA. This case originate from Session Court. Pertitioner charged with the offence of gross indecency under s.377D of the penal code. Pleaded guilty and sentenced to 6 month imprisonment. Contended that the Session Court had no jurisdiction to try him as sodomy is offence under Syariah Criminal Offences. Since, the Syariah court had their own system, rules and evidence and procedure it is only appropriate that the civil court retrain interference.

Third part cover matters relating to intoxication beverages such as alcohol that is prohibited by Islam. For example in case Deputy Syariah Prosecutor vs Kartika Seri Dewi
3

Mahmood Zuhdi Ab. Majid. 2001. Bidang Kuasa Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p. 163 4 Also called philandery 5 Sodomy means Liwat 6 Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment

Binti Sukarno. According to this case, Kartika Seri Dewi was charged under the provision of Section 136 of the Religious Administration and Pahang Malay Custom 1982 (amendment) 1987. Its provides Any Muslim in any shop or public place, selling, purchasing, or consuming alcohol is guilty of an offence and upon conviction may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment not exceeding three years or to both and to whipping of not more than six strokes. Justice En. Mohd Zuki bin Che Mat Ghani decide, the defendant punished by a fine of RM5,000 and 3 years imprisonment for failing to pay fine. The defendant whipping of six strokes of the cane.

Forth, cover matters relating to believe or faith (aqidah) such as offenses about not performing jumaat prayer, not paying zakat fitrah, and not fasting in Ramadhan without a valid excuse.

The fifth part criminal cases under Syariah court is relating to apostasy7 for example in case Kamariah Binti Ali dan Lain-lain lwn Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan dan Satu Lagi (2005) 1 MLJ 197 FC. According to the case, the appellants made a statutory declaration declaring that they no longer embraced the religion of islam in august 1998 they were sentenced to imprisonment on 5 October 2000 for failure to abide by the order of the Syariah court of Appeal relating to the offence under Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan which they had committed before august 1998. Therefore the issue was whether the appellants must be muslims when they were sentenced in October 2000. The Federal Court held in dismissing appellants appeal: first, the appellants were no automatically excused from the charge in Syariah Court just because they had made the statutory declaration declaring they were no longer embracing the religion of Islam, and secondly, adopting the purposive approach, the court was of the opinion that the material time to determine whether the appellants were embracing Islam was the time when appellants committed the offense under the Undang-Undang Majlis Agama Islam and Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan. Therefore, even if, the appellants had already declared themselves as apostates in
7

Mahmood Zuhdi Ab. Majid. 2001. Bidang Kuasa Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p. 163

1998, they should be brought to the Syariah Court in 2000 which for the offence was committed when they were still embracing Islam. All these matters show that the scope of Syariah court in Malaysia relating to criminal law is small and limited due to the matters cover under Syariah court vice versa.

1.2 Limitations of criminal offences in Syariah Court The Syariah court in Malaysia through having jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters shall have powers to exercise the said jurisdiction over Muslim only. Item 1, State List states clearly that the Syariah Court has its jurisdiction only over persons professing the religion of Islam, and in respect of any matters include in item 1 but shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far conferred by federal law8. In short term, the jurisdiction is only applicable to muslim only. For example in case G Rethinasamy lwn Majlis Agama Islam, Pulau Pinang dan Satu Yang Lain (1993) 2 MLJ 166, the plaintiff ask for inter alia, a declaration that he is the registered owner for a pot of land. The respondents made a counterclaim for a declaration that a part of the plot of the land consisting a mosque, a store, and a Muslim burial ground is wakaf land. Justice Abdul Hamid considered the first issue whether the high court has the jurisdiction to decide on the matter since its involve question of wakaf land. Justice Abdul Hamid decided the High Courts jurisdiction is not excluded because the issues of civil law such as estoppel need to be considered and Syariah Court not has the jurisdiction over the non-Muslim plaintift. Administration of the religion of Islam (state of Selangor) Enactment 2003, Section 74 stated that jurisdiction does not extend to non-muslim. Clause 1 stated that no decision of the Syariah Appeal Court, Syariah High Court or Syariah Subordinate Court shall involve the right or the property of a non-Muslim. Clause 2 stated that for the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that a Muslim shall at all times be acknowledge and treated as a Muslim unless a declaration has been made by a Syariah Court that he no longer a Muslim.

Federal constitution. State List (Item 1)

Being a state court, the extend of criminal jurisdiction is territorial. Its means its limited within the boundaries of the respective states only. The jurisdiction of each state is also bound by each enactment from respective state only. For example, Johor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1997 under the case relating to aqidah (Friday Prayer) in Section 14 stated about failure to perform Friday prayers. Any male person, the age of puberty9, which is not to perform Friday prayers at the mosque in kariahnya three times in a row without an excuse syar'i or without reasonable excuse is guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both10. In contrast with Perlis Islamic Criminal Act 1991, in Section 27 stated that the Failure to perform Friday prayers. Section 27 clause 1 stated that every mukallaf who do not perform the Friday prayers three times in a row in a mosque or other place where Friday prayers could be held with no excuse syarie, is guilty of an offense and shall, on conviction be liable a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both. In clause 2 stated that, illness syarie available to a person if- section 27(2)(a) stated that, presence is interrupted by reason of heavy rains, or in clause b, stated that he is sick or does not reside in the county mosque where he was at that time, or in clause c, there are other circumstances permitted by Islamic law11.

Article 76(1) Federal Constitution stated that parliament may make laws with the respect to any matters enumerate in the State list, but only as follows that is to say: (b) for the purpose of promoting the uniformity of the laws of two or more states, or . With the existing of such provision, the jurisdiction of Syariah court for any criminal offences must be uniformity under the Administration of Federal Territories Act 1933. The Syariah court (criminal jurisdiction) Act 1965 as amended in 1984 limits jurisdiction of Syariah court stated that imprisonment up to 3 years or fine up to RM5,000 or whipping up yo six strokes12. Act 355 the act stated that the maximum strokes is 6 strokes only.

Age of puberty means baligh http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/100ae747c72508e748256fa a00188094/6222b031e08d11714825703d002b84de?OpenDocument 11 http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/100ae747c72508e748256fa a00188094/d61559e343d7391f48257066002cffb5?OpenDocument 12 Section 2 syariah court (criminal jurisdiction) 1965. Act 355
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1.3 Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) ACT 1933 This act clearly stated the jurisdiction of Syariah High Court in section 46. Section 46 clause 1 stated that a Syariah High Court shall have jurisdiction throughout the Federal Territories and shall be presided over by a Syariah Judge. Section 46(2) stated that a Syariah High Court shall in clause (a) in its criminal jurisdiction, try any offence committed by a Muslim and punishable under the Enactment or the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303], or under any other written law prescribing offences against precepts of the religion of Islam for the time being in force, and may impose any punishment provided. On the other hand, in jurisdiction of Syariah Subordinate Court in section 47(1)stated that a Syariah Subordinate Court shall have jurisdiction throughout the Federal Territories and shall be presided over by a Judge of the Syariah Subordinate Court. Section 47(2) stated that the Syariah Subordinate Court shall in clause (a) in its criminal jurisdiction, try any offence committed by a Muslim under the Enactment or any other written law prescribing offences against precepts of the religion of Islam for which the maximum punishment provided by the Enactment or such written law does not exceed two thousand ringgit or imprisonment for a term of one year or to both, and may impose any punishment provided.

1.4 Example of Criminal matters under Syariah High Court (Selangor Syariah Criminal Enacment(1995))

1.5 Example of cases from Syariah Subordinate Court. (Selangor Criminal Enactment 2003)

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1.6 Example of the procedure for the stroke offences (KELANTAN SYARIAH CRIMINAL CODE ACT 1987) Not all states in Malaysia had their own whipping procedure for the Syariah offences. However, this procedure was existed of in the respective state such as Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Act 1987 that include the stroke procedure for the Syariah offences. Section 35 stated that, 1. When an offender is sentenced to whipping the punishment shall be conducted at the place and time as directed by the Court. 2. Execution of whipping shall be witnessed by at least four Muslim men. 3. (1) The punishment of whipping shall not be exercisable until the expiration of fourteen days from the date of the sentence or, if there is an appeal, until the decision of. Appeal,court. (2) The punishment of whipping shall be carried out as soon as possible after the expiry of such period under sub-rule (1). 4. Cane shots to be set by using the cane 5. Whipping shots to the body everywhere except the face, head, chest and genitals. 6. Drive whipping should be a simple way. The mouth cannot lift the cane to the level of his head. Drive straight whipping shall not exceed the number ordered by the court13.

13

Yaa Dato Hj Ismail b. Yahya, Dato Faiza bt Haji Tamby Chik. 2010. Syariah Law Reports. Editorial Advisory

Board. p. 86

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PERSONAL LAW

Islamic Personal Law also known as Family Law. There are many Islamic matters was provided in Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act303] such as marriage, polygamy, custody of children, wakaf, inheritance, divorce, fasakh and others.

2.1 MARRIAGE Marriage is the state of being husband and wife. The minimum age for marriage which allowed by Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] in Section 8 is the man must be above the age of eighteen or the woman is above the age of sixteen. In Section 26 of Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] provides that right to have marriage certificate. In section 25 said the marriage after the appointed date of every person resident in the Federal Territory and of every person living abroad who is resident in the Federal Territory shall be registered in accordance with this Act. There are reasons for a woman who wishes to marry must obtain permission of the wali hakim from the Syariah Court according to situation such as no legal guardian of the lineage , hidden guardian, convert or muallaf, illegitimate child, guardian refuses, guardian in the pilgrimage or visitation, guardian could not be contacted due to emergency. In the Terengganu case of Re Wan Abdul Aziz (1994)10 JH 45 the applicant applied to determine the validity of the marriage held in South Thailand between himself and one Zakiah bt.Abdul Hamid. According to the evidence the marriage was held in Narathiwat, although the applicant said the marriage was held in Patani .The Naib Kadi who solemnised the marriage had authority to do so in Patani but not in Narathiwat .The Shariah High Court held the marriage was invalid as the person who solemnized the marriage had no authority to do so.14

2.2 POLYGAMY According to Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303]Section 23(1) was said no man, during the subsistence of a marriage, shall, except with the prior permission in
14

International Islamic University Malaysia Law Journal 6(1&2).1998.Kuala Lumpur.page 143

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writing of the Court, contract another marriage with another woman nor shall such marriage contracted without such permission be registered under this Act: Provided that the Court may if it is shown that such marriage is valid according to Hukum Syarak order it to be registered subject to section 123. (2) Subsection (1) applies to the marriage in the Federal Territory of a man who is resident within or outside the Federal Territory and to the marriage outside the Federal Territory of a man resident in the Federal Territory. (3) An application for permission shall be submitted to the Court in the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by a declaration stating the grounds on which the proposed marriage is alleged to be just and necessary, the present income of the applicant, particulars of his commitments and his ascertainable financial obligations and liabilities, the number of his dependants, including persons who would be his dependants as a result of the proposed marriage, and whether the consent or views of the existing wife or wives on the proposed marriage have been obtained. Example case is occurred on April 20, 2010, Bung Mokhtar pleaded guilty to committing polygamy. He was then sentenced to a one-month's jail by the East Gombak lower Syariah Court on May 19, 2010. He was also slapped with a RM1,000 fine or one month's jail in default on a second charge of abetting actress Zizie Izette Abdul Samad to marry without the consent of a Syariah registrar. It was reported during the court hearing, Bung Mokhtar and his illegitimate wife, Zizie Izette, did not show any remorse, were generally gay and casually chatted with journalists. They then subsequently drove off in a Porsche Cayenne. Malaysian politicians are required to use only nationally-produced Proton cars. The issue of Bung Mokhtar entering into an illegal polygamous marriage without fulfilling the required procedures and conditions under the Islamic Family Law (Selangor) Enactment 2003, generated a chorus of criticism from women's groups, who demanded his resignation On August 11, 2010, Bung Mokhtar was let off with a RM1,000 fine in lieu of the jail sentence while Zizie was fined RM1,000 or one month's jail in default for marrying without the consent of a Syariah registrar.15

15 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bung_Mokhtar_Radin

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2.3 DIVORCE Divorce (talaq) means dissolution of marriage by talaq pronouncement or synonym thereof based on Al-Quran, As-Sunnah and jurist opinion. Divorce by talaq can be done by soreh utterance (clear utterance) and kinayah utterance (insinuation utterance) and by talaq rajie (revocable repudiation) or talaq bain ( irrevocable repudiation). Rights can be claimed in the Syariah Court after a divorce occurs are maintenance of wife, muta'ah or consolatory gift , harta sepencarian or property jointly acquired by husband and wife during the subsistence of marriage , hadhanah or custody of children section , maintenance of children, arrears of maintenance, right of accommodation. Then the form of divorce in Islam as practiced in Syariah Court such as talaq, fasakh, khuluq, presumption of death, divorce under ta'liq or stipulation.16

The court has jurisdiction to make an order of divorce if the marriage has registered under the law and the marriage was contracted in accordance with Hukum Syara. For the husband, the right will be claim such as right to polygamy marriage with the prior permission in writing from the syariah court and right to file an application of nusyuz towards wife. Example case at Kuala Lumpur is Norizam v.Halim Azman (1993)10 JH 65 the husband had pronounced a taliq to the effect that if the wife consulted certain named persons in religious matters she could be divorced by one talaq. The wife later did go and see the persons concerned and therefore it was held that the divorce by cerai taliq had been effected .The wife claimed maintenance for the period of eddah, the rent of the house occupied by her during the eddah ,maintenance in arrears, mutaah and the debt due to her. The Shariah High Court held that she was entitled to the maintenance during eddah which was agreed at RM940,to the rent of the house during the period of eddah and to the maintenance in arrears amounting to RM5,400.The husband was also ordered to pay mutaah of RM2400 and to repay the debt of RM2000 to her which he had incurred for payment of road tax and insurance for his car.17

16http://www.jksm.gov.my/jksmv2/index.php?option=com_xmap&sitemap=1&Itemid=137&lang=bm

17

International Islamic University Malaysia Law Journal 6(1&2).1998.Kuala Lumpur.page 144

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2.4 CUSTODY OF CHILD (HADHANAH) Persons entitled to custody of a child according Section 81 (1) of Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] subject to Section 82, said the mother shall be of all persons the best entitled to the custody of her infant children during the connubial relationship as well as after its dissolution. Section 81(2) said where the court is of the opinion that the mother is disqualified under Hukum Syara from having the right to hadhanah or custody of her children, the right shall, subject to subsection (3), pass to one of the following persons in the following order of preference, that is to say-(a) the maternal grandmother, how-high-so ever; (b) the father; the paternal grandmother, how-high-so ever ;the full sister; the uterine sister; the sanguine sister; the full sisters daughter; the uterine sisters daughter; the sanguine sisters daughter the maternal aunt;(c) the paternal aunt; the male relatives who could be their heirs as asabah or residuaries: provided that the custody of such person does not affect the welfare of the child. Section 82 of Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] provides that, qualifications to be a hadhinah are she is Muslim;(a) she is of sound mind;(b) she is of an age that qualifies her to bestow on the child the care, and affection that the child may need; (c) she is of good conduct from the standpoint of Islamic morality; and (d) she lives in a place where the child may not undergo any risk morally or physically. Section 84(1) of Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] provides that, the right of the hadhinah to the custody of a child terminates upon the child attaining the age of seven years in the case of a male, and the age of nine years, in the case of a male, but the Court may, upon application of the hadinah, allow her to retain the custody of the child until the attainment of the age of nine years, in the case of a male, and the age of eleven years, in the case of a female. (2) After termination of the right of the hadinah, the custody devolves upon the father, and if the child has reached the age of discernment (mumaiyiz), he or she shall have the choice of living with either of the parents, unless the Court otherwise orders. Example case for Hadhanah is Myriam v Mohamed Arif. Application and Respondent obtained a divorce order through mutual consent of both parties, on condition that custody of children given to respondent with access to the applicant from the Petaling Jaya Kathi Court.

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Upon remarriage to another man, applicant applied to Civil High Court for custody of her children from previous marriage. On the issue of jurisdiction the court held that applicant was entitled to make the said application for custody and by virtue of section 45(6) of the Selangor Administration of Muslim Law Enactment the civil court had jurisdiction to hear the application. The court observed that according to Islamic law, when a couple is divorced and the mother has not remarried, the custody of children belongs to the mother, unless she remarries a man not related to the minor within the prohibited degree. However, in this case the court applied its discretion to give custody to the mother even though she has already remarried. While for the case of Zaleha v Sahabudin (1995) 10 JH 79 the wife had originally applied for fasakh on the ground that the husband had not lived with her for a period of more two years. So the court confirmed the divorce and also confirmed the agreement of the parties relating to maintenance during eddah, mutaah and the custody of children. The elders son aged 9 years to be in the custody of the father and the younger daughter 2 years to be in custody of the mother.18 2.5 FARAID Faraids case is case registered to resolve the division of the inheritance left by the deceased. Inheritance is divided into two which is immovable property and movable property. Immovable property such as house and land while movable property such as bank saving, shares, vehicle, jewelries et cetera.19 Power of Court to order division of harta sepencarian was said in Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303], Section 58. (1) The Court shall have power, when permitting the pronouncement of talaq or when making an order of divorce, to order the division between the parties of any assets acquired by them during the marriage by their joint efforts or the sale of any such assets and the division between the parties of the proceeds of sale.

18 18

International Islamic University Malaysia Law Journal 6(1&2).1998.Kuala Lumpur.page 144

19

http://www.jksm.gov.my/jksmv2/index.php?option=com_xmap&sitemap=1&Itemid=137&lang=bm

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The fundamentals considered by the court to allow a person to receive an inheritance on the ground marriage are whether the marriage is valid or not according to Hukum Syara, weather the death occurred before or after the marriage solemnization, whether the couple had together or not, whether the couple had together or not, whether the property is owned by the deceased or not and whether in eddah of talak rajie (revocable repudiation) if divorced.20 Example case which touch about power of court to order division of harta sepencarian (inheritance) which use section 58(1) of Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 [Act 303] is Ramah v Laton (1927). The appellant in this case is one of the widows and the administratrix of the estate and effects of one Mat Dawi bin Suroh deceased. The respondent is another widow who sued the appellant as administratix, for a declaration that all movable and immovable property of the deceased at the time of his death was Harta Sharikat according to the Shafii school of Mohamedan Law, and that respondent was entitled to a one half share in the property. The learned Chief Justice gave judgment for the respondent declaring that all the immovable property of the deceased at the time of his death was Harta Sharikat , and as such the respondent was entitled to one half share therein subject to the right of third persons , and he further declared that the respondent was also entitled to share in the deceaseds estate as one of the widows of the deceased according to Mohamedan Laws.21

2.6 WAKAF Example of case for Wakaf is Isa bin Abdul Rahman and others v.Majlis Ugama

Islam,Penang(1995) 10 JH 222 the first plaintiff was one of the heirs of the person who created by his will the wakaf of the land at Jalan Macalister ,Penang on which the Masjid Jamek was built .The second plaintiff was a member of the management committee of the mosque. The High Court had made an order on the 1 December 1989 vesting the mosque and the land on which it stood in the Majlis Ugama Islam. The mosque.The Majlis had made a decision to pull

20 Ahmad Mohamad Ibrahim..Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam di Malaysia.1997.Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia(IKIM).Ipoh-Perak: Pan

Silver Printers Sdn.Bhd

21

Farid Sufian Suhuaib. Administration of Islamic Law in Malaysia

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down the mosque and build a five storey building on the site and they proposed that the 1 st to 3rd floors be used as the premises of the Bank Islam and the 4th and 5th floors be used for the mosque. The plaintiffs disagreed with the proposal and brought an action inter alia to ask for an injuction to prevent the Majlis Ugama Islam from pulling down the mosque and proceeding with the building as planned. It was argued that the proposals were contrary to the Hukum Syarak and the public interest.The Majlis Ugama Islam contended that what they proposed was not contrary to the real intention of the wakaf and they argued that the plaintiffs had no locus standi in the matter.

ADMINISTRATION OF ISLAMIC LAW (FEDERAL TERRITORIES) According to Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993 Act 505 stated that a Syariah High Court and Syariah Subordinate Court shall have jurisdiction as shown below by section 46 and section 47. 3.1 Jurisdiction Syariah High Court Section 46(1)and(2)(b): 46. (1) A Syariah High Court shall have jurisdiction throughout the Federal Territories and shall be presided over by a Syariah Judge. (2) A Syariah High Court shall (b) in its civil jurisdiction, hear and determine all actions and proceedings in which all the parties are Muslims and which relate to (i) betrothal, marriage, ruju, divorce, nullity of marriage(fasakh), nusyuz, or judicial separation (faraq) or other matters relating to the relationship between husband and wife; (ii) any disposition of, or claim to, property arising out of any of the matters set out in subparagraph (i);

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(iii) the maintenance of dependants, legitimacy, or guardianship or custody (hadhanah) of infants; (iv) the division of, or claims to, harta sepencarian; (v) wills or death-bed gifts (marad-al-maut) of a deceased Muslim; (vi) gifts inter vivos, or settlements made without adequate consideration in money or moneys worth,by a Muslim; (vii) wakaf or nazr; (viii) division and inheritance of testate or intestate property;30 Laws of Malaysia ACT 505 (ix) he determination of the persons entitled to share in the estate of a deceased Muslim or of the shares to which such persons are respectively entitled; or (x) other matters in respect of which jurisdiction is conferred by any written law 3.2 Jurisdiction Syariah Subordinate Court Section 47(1),(2)(b)and(3): 47. (1) A Syariah Subordinate Court shall have jurisdiction throughout the Federal Territories and shall be presided over by a Judge of the Syariah Subordinate Court. (2) The Syariah Subordinate Court shall (b) in its civil jurisdiction, hear and determine all such actions and proceedings as the Syariah High Court is authorized to hear and determine in which the amount or value of the subject-matter in dispute does not exceed fifty thousand ringgit or is not capable of estimation in terms of money. (3) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may from time to time by notification in the Gazette extend the

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civil jurisdiction of the Syariah Subordinate Court.22

COMMENTARY AND CONCLUSION From this discussion, we have found some weaknesses in administration of Islamic personal law and criminal law in Syariah Court such as scope of jurisdiction of Syariah Court is too small because Syariah Court has its jurisdiction only over persons professing the religion of islam and also being territorial and in respect of any islamic matters in schedule nine state list in Federal Constitution, jurisdiction over offences very limited with maximum penalty 3 years imprisonment up to 3 years or fine up to RM 5,000 or wipping up to six strokes. This penalty not give impact and awareness to offender and they will repeat their crime again and again. Besides, the jurisdiction of the judges also had been question by the pulic such as case Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno v Timbalan Pendakwa Syarie. The public still interfere about it eventhough the sentence was stated in the syariah criminal act 1933. So, we suggest to standardized Islamic law to all states because when the offender do the crime in Kelantan when he run to Johor, then when someone charge him in Johor Syariah court, the court had no power to make jurisdiction to his case. With standardizing the Islamic lawin all states, we can charge the offender in any state and the crime will be decrease continuously. Next, application of warrant to arrest the offence which is not present to the court during the case should be use because to make more effectively and softly jurisdiction proceedings of Syariah Court and the case will be settled in the short period.

22

Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993 Act 505.page 29 ,30.

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1. _________. 2010. Federal Constitution. Selangor: International Law Book Services

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